Item count means fob adding-listing



y 1, 1954 H. M. FLEMING 2,678,161

ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDING-LISTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HOWARD M. FLEMING AGENT- y 1954 v H. M. FLEMING 2,678,161

ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDING-LISTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HOWARD M. FL'EM/NG BY J -1" May 11, 1954 H. M. FLEMING ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDiNG-LISTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HOWARD M. FLEMING AGENT May 11, 1954 H. M. FLEMING ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDING-LISTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .ll/lllllll/Ill R o T N E v m HOWARD M. FL EM/NG AGENT May 11, 1954 H. M. FLEMING 2,678,161

ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDING-LISTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 -e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HOWARD M. F L E M/NG AGENT H. M. FLEMING 2,678,161 ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDING-LISTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25, 1951 May 11, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 v V FIG. 8

INVENTOR HOWARD M FLEMING AGENT Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ITEM COUNT MEANS FOR ADDING-LISTING MACHINES Application August 25, 1951, Serial No. 243,659

10 Claims. 1

The invention relates to adding-listing machines and more particularly to novel means for eifecting a net count of the items accumulated additively and subtractively into the register or accumulator wheels thereof.

' The present invention contemplates improrved means for utilizing the higher order register wheels of such a machine for the purpose of effecting a count of the items recorded upon the lower order Wheels of the register.

The invention provides means whereby items added into the register wheels are counted into the item count wheels of the register in a plus manner, While a subtractive operation performed upon the register wheels will automatically subtract a count from the item count wheels.

Provision is also made to automatically disable the item count means in those operations which do not involve entering amounts either additively or subtractively into the register.

The above objects are accomplished in the present invention by means which in no way alter the touch or force required in operating the digit keys or the operation control keys of the key- Fig. 1 is a right side elevation showing a cross section of the keyboard, registering and printing devices;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the operating keys, the sign control slide and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation showing the accumulator meshing means, the slide controlling the digit index bars, etc.

Fig. 4 is a right side elevation showing the accumulator zeroizing slide and associated total mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a left side perspective showing means for setting and controlling a printing hammer block and split printing devices.

Fig. 6 is a left side elevation of the item count control means.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts in position assumed when a digit key is depressed.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the clutch release slide, the stop bars and column latches and the universal member cooperable therewith for controlling an item count.

Fig. 9 is a detail right side elevation of an alternative means for controlling a release of the universal member for the column latches.

Item count means for counting the number of quantities, values or items as they are registered in the machine are well known in the art. Such means were heretofore in the main directed to the accumulation of item counts wherein the machine is operated for both plus and minus operations, while the item counting means operates in a plus direction only.

On some forms of work, however, the net count of items, i. e., the number of plus accumulations less the number of subtractive accumulations is required to be listed. Also in the event that an operator should inadvertently register an incorrect amount, the subsequent correcting of such an entry should not be included as a counted item but instead should be deducted from the count which was entered into the counter during the incorrect operation.

It is also advantageous to maintain the uniformity and ease of pressure required to operate the various keys of the keyboard to which the operator has become accustomed, and heretofore inclusion of an item count means has required an undesirable increase in the load placed on these keys.

The present invention contemplates novel means for accomplishing the above advantages and is shown as applied to a listing-adding machine of well known type such as that disclosed in its essential features in U. S. Patent 1,932,013, issued October 24, 1933 to Loring P. Crosman, and as modified by the disclosure of Patents 2,307,669 and 2,330,270 issued to the same inventor on January 5, 1943 and September 28, 1943, respectively.

In so far as it is expedient, the parts hereinafter described which correspond to like parts in the foregoing patents will be similarly numbered and reference is made to these patents for details of construction not completely described in the following specification.

Adding and subtracting As set forth in the reference patents, amounts set up on digit keys 2l5 (Fig. 1) for each denominational order are transferred additively or subtractively upon operation of plus key I I4 (Fig. 3) or minus operating key 214, to a series of accumulator or register wheels 4715 by means of a series of spring operated differential actuators 6H3 loosely mounted upon a transverse shaft 508. The forward arm of each differential actuator lever BIO is provided with segmental rack teeth, adapted to mesh with the pinions 412 of the series of accumulator wheels 413. Index bars 6I5 are pivotally connected to the upper arms of levers.

SID, these index bars being moved,.upon counter:

clockwise rotation of the levers, into engagement.-

with the stems of selectively depressed keys 2 I5.' The type bars I are pivotally connected to the rearward arms of levers 6H1; each type bar being provided with a longitudinally 'disposed'series of the bottoms of their stems lying in the path of movement of the stop lugs of the relatedbarsiil5, allowing such bars to advance a distance propor= tional to the value of the key, upon .operationzof the machine; Depression of. a'digitqkeyy Wi1118JS0 remove'a column latch 2M from-the path'of movement of its related stop bar. 6 I 5,-these latches preventing-movement of a stop bar and lever [H0 in any column: in which no key is depressed; I

Each :of the racks .6I0 is' heldwin. itsnormal clockwiseposition againsttension of its'respective spring 583, by a stud B59 fast in said racks'rand having engagement with a series of dogs 6 I! piv otallymounted upon-a transversev rod BIB sup: ported'within a rocker frame'GIB loosely mount.- ed on the shaft 608;-

A rock shaft I is oscillated by means. ;of an electric motor I00-connected$through suitable gearingand clutchmeansl03-IM (Fig; 2) with a rock arm3 I 0, fast with shaft 30] by means of a connecting rod.-I08 so that as a-crank'armdfiiis rotated'by the motor shaft 30 I will be oscillated.

Rock shaft 36 is provided with cam meansi3l 8 (Figs. 1 and-3) for :governingthe movementof. frame I 6. As shaft GUI is rotated forwardly; cam 3H3 willfipermit frame 616 under influence of spring Iii-'5' to be rocked counterclockwiseu'and any of the levers 6 I 0 which have 'beenreleasedby the depression 'ofdigit keys 2I5 will :beyallowed to rotate under influence of their springs G83 untiltheyare stopped by the lugs of bar 6 I 5 contacting with the stemsof thedepressed keys; Upon rearward-return movement ofshaft 3M, the cam I twill restore frame 6 I6 and the dogs BII will re-' turn the operated levers Eli) to normal position:

This excursion'of the levers 6I0 serves to "register amounts set in the keyboard. upon one or moreac-r cumulators 413 and to setup a similar. amount on the-printing lineof the type bars.

Release'of clutch pawl I03 is effectedupomdepression of any of the motor keys, the. stems "of which-are provided with a-cam surface 40 (Fig.:2)' acting upon'depressioniof a key to move aslide 4| forwardly, thereby operating a bell cranknlever.

In thislmovement. the lower end of lever I05 will be disengagedfrom.

4 the tail of the spring urged clutch pawl I03 and allow said pawl to fall into engagement with the driving clutch member I04 to effect a machine cycle of operation.

During a cycle of operation the wheels of the accumulators 473, if engaged, are rotated subtractively upon the forward stroke or vadolitively uponthe return stroke of the actuators '6 I 0, there being an actuator lever H0 and an associated accumulator wheel for each order provided in the machine, the ,timedmeshing and unmeshing of the... accumulator 'gears being controlled as follows, and as more fully described in U. S. Patent 2,055,623,grantedrSeptember 29, 1936, to Loring P.-Cro'sman and entitled Calculating Machine to which reference is made for more detailed description.

As shown (Fig. 1), the accumulator pinions 4" stand normally in mesh with the segment gears of actuators 5H3, the accumulator shaft 403 being mounted in'guide' slots (FigsB) of the ,machine frame so that the accumulator assembly may :be moved radially of the actuators,- to mesh and. unmesh-,..the-@pinions 412. Shaft 403 is adjusted by means of toggle linkage Lone-member of which is fastupon'a rock shaft 2. The linkageis held'in either of two adjustedpositions bya toggle spring I I. Fastiuponshaft 2 is a plate M9 (Fig; 2) hav-v ingyieldable spring connection lwith an arm .5 provided with a lateral flangefi. Pivoted at 33 upon said arm is a cam switch 6 which, with flange 22.01? arm 5, liesin the plane of a roller "I fixed upon lever 3I6.

In additive operations roller 1 will-contactcam surface 2 I of switch 6 and thereafter .with'the .rear end of flange 22, whereby-arm 5 will be raised, thus rockingshaft 2 andlinkagel 0, to unmeshvthe pinions 412 of the accumulator before the'actu-i ators are allowed to move. During thee ontinued forward movement. of actuators BIO, ar-m5 will-be held in raised position by engagement of .roller fl with the lower surface of flange. Atthe end of the forward stroke, roller .1 willlift the forward end-of switch S away from a lug 20 of arm 5, and

will thereafter move out of contact with the switch, which will return..-under:influenceof a spring 15 into normal relation with the arm.;

chine, slide is restored to disengage the clutchandrestore the various control elements to normalgposition. For this purpose-an antirfriction roller mounted on a lever-65;(Fig. 4)- will be.

engaged by a cam projection of plate 105, and rocked clockwise against tension of a springsBIi secured cat one-end-toleveriili and at its-other.

end to a fixed framing of the machine.- A piv-= oted lever 51 has yieldable connection with lever 55 through means of a spring 68, lever 61 extendingupwardly and into the path. of movement of thelug .45 .of slide 44. Displacement-of lever 65.

by the cam edge of plate I05 willtherefore retract slide 44 itsnormal position of rest, thereby unlocking the operation keys and permittingroller 43 to again fall into latching engagement withsaid slide.

In the. above described :restoral of slide 44 the? projection 45 will permitlatch. I I2 to fall andrestupontheprojection 106 of latch I06.- Near the end of the clockwise movement of lever '55 a pr0- jection 65" thereof engages and rocks lever I06 into the path of movement of clutch pawl I03 to disengage said pawl from driving member I04, whereupon latch II2 re-engages projection I06 terminating the cycle of operation.

Each numeral wheel unit is connected to the higher order numeral wheels by well known tens transfer mechanism of the crawl carry type, such as described in U. S. Patent 1,828,180, issued to Clyde Gardner on Qctober20, 1931.

Printing Printing is effected during a cycle of operation upon a record sheet-which is inserted around the usual platen 89I (Fig. 1) mounted within the framing of the carriage in the well known manner. The digit type is solidly set in the type bars 6| I, and the type bars are normally held in forward position substantially spaced from the platen Bill by means of springs I45. Adapted for engagement with the forward face of each type bar 6II is a hammer I46, mounted upon a shaft I4I fixed in the machine frame. The hammers are operated by means of their respective springs I48, and are normally held tensioned by means or a bail I49, suspended from shaft I4! and connected by a link I50 with a rock arm I5I. Arm I5I is fast upon a shaft 302 upon which is also fast a lever 32'! (Fig. 6) having link connection 328 with the motor driven arm 3I6 fast near the left end upon shaft 30I. Thus, upon motor operation, and during the counterclockwise rotation of frame 616, shaft 302 will be rocked clockwise and bail I 49 moves forward slowly permitting any of the hammers I46 which are to be inactive rela tive to printing to rotate gradually therewith in a clockwise direction until the type bars 6| I are forced to a position wherein the type at the printing line will be closely adjacent to the surface of platen 89L Bail I 49 is held in this position during the printing operation, effective in the active orders as hereinafter described, and is subsequently returned to restore the hammers to normal position. This is the entire operation of any of the hammers I46 located in columns to the left of those wherein keys 2I'5 have been depressed.

Action of the hammers I46 in the active columns is controlled as follows:

A series of latches I52 (one for each hammer I46) is provided, the latches being pivotally mounted upon a shaft I53 fixed in the machine framing, and being urged counterclockwise to latching position by the springs I48, which connect the latches I 52 and the hammers I46. Each latch I52 lies beneath a lug I54 of the related type bar 6! I, and in the normal position of rest of the type bars the latches are held out of engagement with lugs I55 of the hammers. Upon rotation of an actuator 6I0, however, and consequent displacement of a type bar 6| I, the lug I54 of said bar will move away from the latch I52 which will thereupon rise and engage lug I55 of the hammer. This engagement is timed to occur before any substantial movement of the hammers is allowed by bail I49.

A bail I56, supported from. shaft I53, is provided, with a depending hook I57 (Fig. 3) adapted to be engaged near the extreme forward movement of the actuator drive by a lug I58 of arm I5I, depressing bail I56 against tension of a spring I59 thereby releasing latches I52 from engagement with the hammers I46. Thereupon hammers I46 will be violently operated by their springs I 48, imparting sufficient momentum to the type bars 6| I to insure printing engagement of the type with the record sheet.

, In order to effect printing of zeros by the type bars to the right of those displaced by the actuators 6I0, the value printing hammers are provided with the usual overlapping tails I60 (Fig. 1 and 5) which serve to hold in spring charged condition the hammers located to the right of one secured by its latch. In other words, a latch I52, upon movement of bail I56, will release its related hammer I46, and all hammers lying to the right thereof, for .printing operations as more fully shown and described in the reference patents.

It may be noted, however, that in lieu of an offset projection I60 the 8th order hammer is provided with a pin I6I which normally engages a pawl 5I8 pivoted to the adjacent higher order hammer, to be described in more detail later.

Total and, sub-total As well known and fully set forth in the reference patents, in machines of this type, totals are printed by first disengaging the actuators 6I0 from their column latches 2| 4 and thereafter from the frame 6I6 by tripping dogs 6II in successive order from right to left, allowing the racks to move subtractively under influence of their springs 683 to rotate the accumulator wheels to zero, in which position the wheels are held by engagement with appropriate stops. Following this, the cycling of the machine will effect operation of the printing means at the end of the forward stroke of the operating means and thereafter frame 6 I 6 will pick up and return the actuators to normal position. Successive release of the racks GM is essential because of the character of the tens transfer mechanism employed between the accumulator wheels, i. e., the crawl carry type, wherein every unit of movement of a lower order wheel transmits one tenth of a unit of movement to the next adjacent higher order wheel. Therefore, in zeroizing as each lower order wheel is returned to zero it will subtract from the higher order wheel the fractional move ment previously transmitted.

The above and other special functions are effected upon depression of the total key 278, under control of various spring slides I4, 8|, and 94 (Figs. 2-4) lying beneath pivoted bails 49, depressible by their related machine operating key to control the extent of forward movement of said slides as will now be described.

Depression of total key 218 will release slide 44 (Fig. 2 and 8) which overlies slides I4, BI, and 94, to start motor operation, as previously described for the other keys and will permit a full movement of the slide I4 to set the operation control means 6 for subtractive operation, that is to say, the accumulator pinions 472 will be left in mesh during the zeroizing operation, and will be unmeshed before the additive stroke of the actuators (H0 is effected.

The zeroizing of the accumulator wheels is ef fected by successive operation of the Wheels from right to left of the accumulator, as in Patent No. 1,932,013 hereinbefore referred to, this action being controlled by spring operated means. In the present instance, it is desired to eifect the various adjustments of the controlling mechanisms by power from the motor, and consequently upon depression of the total key the clutch will be allowed a limited driving movement, during which the stop bars 6I5 will be moved laterally free of the column stops 2I4, as described more fully later, and then the motor operation will be inmeager terrupted zto give time. i or thecompletion- .ofthe: zeroizing operation; at the conclusion of which.

the-clutch will be reeengaged and the cycle of operation completed.- For this purpose, a slide 8| (Fig;v 4), which-is blocked against operation when Forward movement of slide 81 is effected simul.

taneously with'forward movement of an arm 16 (Fig. 2), oscillated during each cycle of operation of crank arm plate lfi5, and link 83 is moved downwardly, tensioning a spring 85 which then tendsto. move-latch 84 clockwise about its pivotalsupport. The free end of latch 34, however, engages a springupressed lever 86,- pivoted. upon the machine frameand having an anti-friction roller 85 engaging the cam edge of plate IE5. During the first part of the'cycle of operation the'roller 86' of lever 85 will ride'to and'beyond'the high point of the plate I05 as the latter -rotates, rotating lever 86 clockwise and allowing latch 84 to fall into a notch formed in theupper end of said arm, to maintain the arm in rocked position. A rearward extension 81 oflever 8G is thus held by latch 84 in the path of rotary movement of the clutch pawl I03. Engagement of the pawl-with extension 8i serves to'disengage the pawl from the driving member ifi i' of theclutch and to hold it in disengaged position.

Slide 8'! also has link connection 88 with an arm I34, pivoted upon the machineframe and provided with a finger !33 which will be brought during the movement of slide 81 into contact with the releasing arm 67 of a latch- 62B, disengaging said latch from a projection 6'2! secured upon a total segment Hit, thereby releasing the segment for operation under the influence of a spring 681. Segment'SIB drives a pinion Eli! secured'on the end of a shaft 6B! (Figs. 1 and 4), extending across the machine, said shaft being provided with a series of helically disposed ins which will successively trip -the series of dogs 6H, normally securing the actuators Eli] to frame 646. Dogs Ell are also provided with shoulders normally restraining a series of spring pressed stops 613 in their inactive position: Upon displacement of 'a dog 6H the relatedstop 6I3 will be released, being brought by its spring into the path of movement of a zero stop 551 of the related accumulator Wheel; During this preliminary setting-of the total controls, the'column latches 2H! will also bereleased, in the manner hereinafter described, so that actuators BIO upon successive release from theframe 6H5 will be moved by the springs to rotate the relate'd accumulator wheels to zero.

Upon complete rotation of shaft 601, the projection 62'! of segment 488 will contact with .a

rearward extension of the arm BZI rocking the.

forward end of said arm out of contact with the finger I33, and allowing latch 62!! to move under.

influence of its spring into position to re-engage the projection 62? upon restoration of seg- 8?? engage ":With? driving. member I M I and the *OPQIE: ating'cycle of themachine will be resumed. Dur-. ing; the'forwardustrokeof 'the operating means segment I88 will be: restored to normal. posi--- tion and re-engaged...by its latch 620.. This-re-v storing means being-well known is not illustrated incthe present. disclosure.-

As-moreful'ly set forth in reference Patent 2 330270; in a order that I the keyboard mayube. free for thesetting up of--an item during. any, portion of the totaling operation, the index bars 6l5 are designed to be shifted laterally out of position of engagement with the key -stems:as followsr The index bars fil5 are supported-near their:

ends in sliding plates 90 (Figs. 1 and 8) urged toward the right side of the machineby springs..-

9! The ends of the platesaare engaged-byaa pair of bell crank levers 92, these levers .-beingto'hold the index bars EH5 in normal relationto,

the digit keys H5 and tothe zero latchesiflas'seen'in Fig. 8. Upon forwardmovementof lever lfi and slide 94 therewith;. springs ill-will move plates 90 and index bars 615 toward th'e= right,out of position of contact with the keys andalso out of contactxwith the zero Iatches'ZH: The plates 96 operate individually, so-that there; can be no jamming' of the parts due to twisting action:

Sub-total key 213 operates precisely in, the manner of 'total key 218, except that slide": (Fig.2). is:held in-a partially operated-position byengagement of the bail flil related to the sub: total key with a shoulder 11 of the slide." Thus,': switch G is held in position for'a non-add opera;-

tion, whereby the total subtracted from the ac.-'

cumulatorwheels is restored-thereto during the return stroke of the-operating mechanismgall as well known in theart and described in the reference patents.

Item count means As earlier. setv forth the present invention-contemplates using the-two'left-hand orders of ac-- cumulator wheels 413 for the purpose of accumu-: latinga count of item values as registered upon: thelower orders accumulator :wheels. Suitable means, to .bedescribed, are provided forisplit tingtthe printing devices between the item'count wheelsand the value registering wheels, and :to disablethe-printing of an item count during a machine cycle in registering anitem value.

With reference to Fig.6 the=column latch '214 related to thelowerorder of the-two left-hand columns of the machine is provided withafinger. 501i, shorter of length and spaced from thearm 214' of said latch to form an open end slot 5M.

Pivotally mounted upona stud- 502 fast to the left side frame of the machine is a lever 503. biased for clockwise movement. by aspring 5M and having pinand "slot connection 505 with a lever 506 pivoted upon the machine frame at 501. Lever EGG-is provided with a lug 508 having-engagement with anupwardly extending arm 32'! of the lever 321", having link connection 328 with the power operated arm 3H3 previously described. In the normal position of the parts a lug 509 of lever 563 is thus held downwardly out of engagement with finger 590.

As previously described, lever 32'! in the forward stroke of lever 3|6 during a cycle of operation is rocked in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, and arm 32'! moving away from lug 508 will (unless otherwise prevented as hereinafter described) permit movement of levers 506 and 503 by spring 504. During said movement projection 509 engages the under surface of finger 500 and rocks latch 2|4 upwardly, moving arm 2|4' out of cooperation with index bar EIS and the finger 500 into position for cooperation with said bar. The rearward surface of shortened finger 500, in raised position, is adapted to limit index bar GIS to a single step of forward movement to rotate the itemcount wheel one step of additive or subtractive movement in accordance with the sign character of operation, as determined by operation of plus key H4 or minus key 214 previously described.

The invention also provides the following means for rendering the item count means ineffective in operations in which no digit value keys are depressed.

Pivotally supported upon a transverse rod 5"! (Figs. 1 and 4) of the keyboard is a universal bail 5 extending transversely of the machine and provided with a plurality of projections 5|2 (Fig. 8), there being a projection 5|2 related to each column latch 21-4 provided in the machine. Bail 5|| is held in a rearward position, against clockwise urge of its spring 5|3, by engagement with the lug 45 of operating slide 44, to thereby hold projections 5| 2 to the rear of the path of movement of column latches 2| 4, as shown in Fig. 1.

As previously described, the depression of any of the operating keys rocks bell crank 42 (Fig. 2) to lift roller 43 out of engagement with slide 44, thereby releasing said slide for forward movement by its spring 41 (Fig. 8) to initiate a machine cycle of operation. Upon forward movement of slide 44, projection 45 releases bail 5H for clockwise movement by its spring 5|3, and projections 5|2 moving forwardly therewith are positioned above the column latches 2|4. During the machine cycle of operation arm 2I4' of the item count latch 2|4 will now be held in depressed or zero control position (against the displacement by projection 509 of lever 503 earlier described) by engagement of said arm with the a;

underside of the related displaced projection 5|2 of bail 5H and no counting movement therefore of the index bar (H5 is permitted.

On operations wherein a value key 2 l5 has been depressed, the consequent forward movement of slide 213 (Fig. 1) by said key lifts the related column latch 2M out of the path of movement of its index bar M5 and in so doing also positions the rearward edge of said latch forwardly of the related projection 5 l2 of bail 5| I (Fig. 7). Under such a condition during the forward movement of operating slide 44, in initiating a machine cycle of operation, bail 5 will be held in its rearward position by engagement of any projection 5|2 with a related raised column latch 2M and the item count column latch will be free to raise during such operations and bring finger 500 of said latch into position forcontrolling a single step of movement of the item count means, as previously set forth.

It is frequently desired to first pick up and register a previous count by setting up the count total upon the item count keys and the items value total on the right-hand keys before continuing with an automatic count of items. This can be accomplished, as hereinafter described, by manual adjustment of a three position lever 5 4 (Fig. 5) to its central or Split Printing position before initiating a cycle of operation.

Lever 5| 4 is secured to a shaft 5i5 pivoted in the framing of the machine and having fast thereon a rearwardly extending bail 5|6. Bail 518 is adapted in the forward or Normal operations setting position of lever 5|4 to be held upwardly, free of the cam surface 5|! of the pawl EH8 pivoted to the 9th order printing hammer, which corresponds to the units order of the item counting section. Lever 5! is also provided with a shoulder 5|9 adapted in the forward position of said lever to be positioned above a projection 520 of lever 505 to prevent the previously described movement of said lever, and thereby disable the described adjustment of the item count finger 50E to item counting position. Thus with lever 5M in its extreme forward position, the full capacity of the printing and registering means are available for the usual normal operations of the machine.

Adjustment of lever 5M from Normal to Split Printing position rocks bail 516 downwardly whereupon said bail engaging cam surface 5|| rocks pawl 5H3 out of engagement with the pin |6| of the 8th or highest order item value printing hammer immediately to the right of the item count hammers, thereby effecting a split in the printing means to enable independent printing operations by the item count and item value hammers.

During operations in which lever SM is in its 5 central or Split Printing position, the shoulder 5|9 thereof remains above projection 520 of lever 506 and will prevent adjustment of finger 500 to item count position, as above described.

In both Normal and. in Split Printing operations, a depression of any digit key in the column related to the item count zero latch 2l4 will rock said latch sulficiently to lift arm 2|4' free of the lug BIS of the related index bar 6I5, while positioning the open end slot 50| of said latch adjacent the path of movement of said lug as seen in Fig. '7, so that said bar may be free to move forwardly during a cycle of operation until stopped by engagement with the depressed key.

Adjustment of lever 5 4 to rearward or count position will carry shoulder 5|9 to rearward of projection 520 so that levers 506 and 503 are then free for movement during a cycle of operation to adjust finger 500 to item count control position.

It is undesirable to print an item count during each value registering operation. Therefore, adjustment of lever 514 to count position is adapted to control means for blocking operation of the item count printing hammers as follows.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 5|5 is a latch member 52| yieldably connected to bail 5H5 through means of spring 522. Latch 52I is held by spring 522 against the top edge of bail 5l6 and is adapted for movement with said bail in the adjustment of lever 5|4. Fast to the highest order printing hammer M6 is a pin 523 and upon adjustment of lever 5|4 to its extreme rearward position, latch 52| will move downwardly into engagement with pin 523, blocking movement of said hammer and by means of overlapping tail I60, also the next lower order hammer.

In the adjustment of lever 514 to count position, the forward surface of bail |5 will hold pawl 518 disengaged from pin lSl; therefore, the lower or item value printing hammers will remain free to move.

So that item count totals may be printed along with item value totals, means associated with the total taking devices are provided to re-enable the item count printing hammers, and to also render the item count control finger 50G ineifective during totaling operations. It will be recalled that in total taking operations support plates 90 (Fig. 8) for the index bars 5L5 are first caused to be moved toward the right before a release of the bars 5 i5 takes place. Thus projection N5 of the bar 5|5 related to the item count control finger 590 is moved out of zone with said finger and said bar will be free to move under control of the item count register Wheel in the usual manner. It will thus be obvious that no item count is effected during totalizing operations.

Fast to the rear support plate 9!] and immediately to the left of latch member 52l (Figs. 5 and 8) is a cam shoe 524 provided with a cam surface 524' adapted during the described displacement of said plate to engage an upwardly extending arm 52] of latch 52!. Engagement of cam face 524' with latch 52I will rock said latch out of engagement with pin 523 of the item count ham m'er I46 so that during the subsequent total taking cycle of operation the item count printing harnmers are then free to print the total of the item counts accumulated in those register wheels W3 related to item counting.

Fig. 9 relates to a modified form for controlling operation of universal bail 5 in such manner that a digit key 215 may be set during totalizingoperations and comprises a special slide 5 25, similar to and adjacent the control slides 14, Si and 94, said slide being spring urged forwardly and movable during a machine cycle of operation under control of lever in the manner as described for slides l4, BI and 94. Slide 525, however, is provided with projections 525, 52? cooperable only with the bails 49 which are related to the total and sub-total keys. Therefore, during operations initiated by the plus or minus keys, slide 525 will be permitted to move forwardly. Depression of the total or sub-total keys, however, will depress its related bail 59 into the path of movement of projection 525, 52'! to thereby prevent a forward movement of slide 525.

Pivotally mounted upon a rod 5353 supported in the keyboard plates is a rearwardly extending lever 528 having suitable pivotal connection 529 with the right end plate of universal bail 5| I. A projection 535 of lever 525 engaging the top edge of slide 525 serves to hold bail 5H in counterclockwise position against tension of its spring 5|3, so that projections 5H2 are positioned rearwardly of the column latches 2 14. Slide 525 is provided with a notch 53| adapted during for ward movement of said slide to move into cooperative position with projection 530 so that during a plusor minus cycle of operation in which said slide is permitted to move, projection 53%) entering notch 531 permits clockwise movement of bail 5 by spring 513 and projections 5l2 of bail 5 will cooperate with column latches 2M in the manner and purpose as heretofore fully set forth.

Near the end of the cycle arm 16 will restore i2 slide 525 and cam edge 532 in notch 53! will act to lift lever 528 and restore bail 5H to normal position.

In total, sub-total operations, however, projections 526, 521 will engage with a depressed bail 49 and prevent movement of slide 525, and universal bail 5| I during such operations will therefore be held against movement so that projections 512 will remain rearward of the column latches 2M and said latches thus being free to move, it is then possible to set a digit key 2I5 during a total or sub-total operation.

Having now set forth a novel and simple means which is adapted upon a setting of any digit key in conjunction with a subsequent operation of the control means for initiating cyclic operations to be adjusted by the cyclically operable devices to a position for limiting operation of an actuator and register wheel of a listing calculator to a single step of movement, for the purpose of automatically counting into a portion of the register means thereof item values as registered upon said register, What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described the combination including a value accumulator, actuating mechanism therefor including differentially movable racks, a diiierential stop bar movable with each of said racks, cyclically operable means for moving said accumulator into operative relation to said racks and for imparting movement to said racks, column latches adapted to prevent movement of a related stop bar and its associated rack, value setting keys arranged in columns and adapted to release the related column latch and intercept said stop bar; means for controlling item counting in a portion of said accumulator including a column latch movable to a plurality of positions and adapted in one position to prevent a movement of its related stop bar and actuator when no related digit key is depressed and adjustable by depression of a related digit key to a position for permitting a movement of said stop bar and actuator in accordance with the value of the depressed key and movable in 7 yet another position for limiting the movement of said bar and actuator to a one step movement for effecting an item count, adjustment means operable by the cyclically operable means to adjust the item count column latch to item counting control position, and means for enabling and disabling said adjustment means.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 and wherein the means operable by the cyclically operable means to adjust the latch to item counting position includes a yieldably operable member.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 including operations control keys, a clutch control slide releasable by said keys for effecting a cycle of operation and means under control of said slide and adapted for displacement therewith to prevent said adjustment of the item count column latch when no column latch has been displaced by a value setting key to thus disablea counting operation of the item counter actuator rack.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 wherein said preventing means includes a universal bail movable to sense any column latch displaced by operation of its related digit keys, and wherein a displaced column latch prevents movement of said bail to thus disable said preventing means when a value key is operated and thereby enable the item count means.

5. The invention set forth in claim 2 and including a lever manually. settable for preventing 13 movement of said yieldably operated member and said adjustment thereby of the item count column latch.

6. The invention set forth in claim having total taking devices including means for disassociating the item count actuating means from the item count control means whereby the item count control means is disabled during an operation of the total taking devices.

'7. The invention set forth in claim 6 having printing means including a plurality of hammers operable during operation of the cyclic operating means to effect printing, means adjustable by the manually settable lever to effect a printing split between the value printing and item printing hammers, means settable by a further movement of said manually settable lever to prevent a printing movement of the item count hammers, and means under control of said disassociating means for disabling said preventing means and thereby permit a printing operation of the item count hammers in totalizing operations.

8. The invention set forth in claim 1 including operating control keys, a slide yieldably movable under control of the cyclically operable means, and a universal bail cooperable with said column latches and movable under control of said slide to prevent the said adjustment of the item count column latch to item counting position.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein said universal bail is adapted to sense any column latch displaced by operation of a value key and wherein when no value key is depressed said bail is permitted to be displaced and thereby block subsequent movement of a column latch and its related column of value keys, and including means settable upon operation of certain of the operations control keys for disabling the movement of said slide and thereby disable displacement of said universal bail during certain selected types of operations of the machine.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9 and wherein said slide is provided with stops associated with the total and sub-total operations control keys to prevent a movement of said slide upon operation of either of said keys and wherein said slide is permitted a movement in operations related to other operation control keys.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 996,260 Kilpatrick June 27, 1911 1,238,809 Pentecost Sept. 4, 1917 2,052,604 Christian et al Sept. 1, 1936 2,056,536 Sampson Oct. 6, 1936 2,114,604 Mehan Apr. 19, 1938 2,189,851 Williams et al Feb. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 453,280 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1936 457,273 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1936 

